Exiled students have hope in abbot


Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan offers Heartsong Co-Director Sheila Magalhaes a prayer shawl as a gift at his last visit in October 2006.Reminder Publications submitted photo

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW Tibetan immigrants have been seeking refuge from the Chinese government in Ladakh, India, for decades. In 1960, a year after the Dalai Lama fled and set up Tibet's government in exile in India, a Tibetan Buddhist monk named Geshe Tsetan also left in pursuit of safety.

Forty-seven years later, Tsetan is as empowered to educate the Tibetan children of Ladakh, India, as he was when he founded the Siddhartha School in 1995. The school is a means to provide education as well as preserve Tibetan culture.

Eight months out of the year he dedicates his time to teaching and fundraising for Siddhartha in the United States, the other four months he spends in Ladakh overseeing the school and its programs. On Oct. 21 he will lead a discussion at Heartsong Yoga in East Longmeadow titled "Taking Refuge in the Budda."

Tsetan, who has been renamed Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan thanks to an appointment from the Dalai Lama to be the head abbot of the new Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India, is a frequent visitor of the East Coast. He has taught and lectured at schools in various states, cities and towns including Maine, New York, Amherst, Hampshire, Northampton and Deerfield.

Heartsong Co-Director Sheila Magalhaes is ecstatic to welcome Tsetan back to her studio. He has visited Heartsong on several occasions. The first time was in 2001 shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

"His passion is to have this school so that the Tibetan culture for the children could be preserved so that they can have an education that is more modern and up-to-date," Magalhaes said. "He has been traveling the northeast to raise money for his school."

Magalhaes' friend, Deb Young, was a student of Tsetan and during a lecture visit to Smith College she mentioned Magalhaes' Heartsong Yoga studio in East Longmeadow and asked him if he would be interested in meeting her students.

"[I said] I would love to have this man come to the studio," Magalhaes recalled. "When he walked in with his yellow and orange robe with this huge smile on his face, [I felt] I was the in the presence of a real teacher ... He was here after 9/11 and people were able to ask him questions about the loss and despair and he had these really peaceful ways of answering questions. Because we're such a small studio we had the chance to have an intimate conversation. That's what makes it so special. This man is generous with his time and teachings and he's interested in meeting people. He's such a sweet man."

Tsetan's talk will take place from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 and will followed by a question and answer period. There will also be meditation and a blessing. Magalhaes said donations will be accepted for Siddhartha School.

Heartsong Yoga is located at 264 N. Main Street in East Longmeadow. For more information on Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan's talk at Heartsong Yoga call 525-0720 or visit www.heartsongyoga.com.